Pretham 2
Pretham 2 is a 2018 Indian Malayalam-language comedy horror film written, co-produced, and directed by Ranjith Sankar.[1] It serves as a sequel to the 2016 film Pretham and stars Jayasurya reprising his role as the mentalist John Don Bosco.[1] The film was released on 21 December 2018.[2] The story revolves around five members of an online Facebook group who gather at an old heritage bungalow in Mullassery to shoot a short film, unaware that their project is connected to the tragic death of a teenager, leading to encounters with paranormal activity.[1] John Don Bosco becomes involved to help resolve the spirit's unrest and bring peace to the haunted location.[3] The supporting cast includes Saniya Iyyappan, Dain Davis, and Amith Chakalakkal.[2] Upon release, Pretham 2 received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for Jayasurya's performance and the film's blend of humor and suspense, though some noted inconsistencies in the plot.[3] It holds an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 on The Times of India.[3] On IMDb, the film is rated 5.3 out of 10 based on user reviews.[1]Background
Original film
Pretham, released on August 12, 2016, served as the foundational installment in the franchise, blending elements of comedy and horror in a Malayalam-language production.[4] Written and directed by Ranjith Sankar, the film marked a collaborative effort between the director and lead actor Jayasurya, who portrayed John Don Bosco, a charismatic mentalist central to the narrative.[5] This genre fusion, characterized by humorous scenarios intertwined with supernatural intrigue, resonated with audiences seeking lighthearted yet thrilling entertainment.[4] The film's commercial performance underscored its impact, grossing over ₹12 crore at the Kerala box office after 25 days of release, establishing it as a significant success for a mid-budget venture.[6] Regarded as a sleeper hit due to its steady word-of-mouth growth and sustained theatrical run, Pretham outperformed expectations, particularly in regional markets.[7] Jayasurya's depiction of the mentalist John Don Bosco not only drove the story's investigative elements but also laid the groundwork for the character's archetype in subsequent franchise entries, emphasizing clever deduction and psychological insight amid comedic horror tropes.[8] This original film's acclaim paved the way for its sequel, with Jayasurya reprising his role as the mentalist in Pretham 2.[9]Development
Following the commercial success of the 2016 film Pretham, which grossed ₹12.45 crore at the Kerala box office in 23 days, director Ranjith Sankar announced the development of its sequel, Pretham 2, in mid-2018.[10] The project was revealed through a poster shared by lead actor Jayasurya, teasing the return of his character with the tagline "John Don Bosco coming again," positioning it as a direct continuation of the original's narrative.[10] Ranjith Sankar wrote and directed Pretham 2, marking his sixth collaboration with Jayasurya after films including Punyalan Agarbattis (2013), Su.. Su... Sudhi Vathmeekam (2015), and Pretham (2016).[11] The core concept centers on mentalist John Don Bosco investigating a series of supernatural events linked to online fraud and fake identities perpetrated by a group of youngsters via social media, blending elements of mentalism to distinguish it from purely ghostly encounters.[12] This storyline builds on the character's established curiosity about the unknown and his belief in spirit interactions through subtle signals, while addressing contemporary issues like digital deception.[11][13] The film was co-produced by Ranjith Sankar and Jayasurya under the banner Dreams N Beyond, Sankar's production house founded in 2012 to support meaningful Malayalam cinema projects.[10][14] Development emphasized retaining the horror-comedy tone of the first film for a youth audience aged 15-20, but incorporated psychological thriller aspects through mentalism sequences, with Sankar consulting professional mentalist Aathi to authentically craft the protagonist's abilities.[11] Key creative decisions included avoiding reuse of the original's cast, locations, or visual effects, instead focusing on enhanced technical elements like sound design and graphics to elevate the suspense.[11]Story and characters
Plot
Pretham 2 is set in Mangalassery Mana, an old heritage bungalow located in Kerala, where a group of five cinema enthusiasts from a social media circle gather to shoot a short film.[3] These individuals, bonded through their shared passion for filmmaking, arrive at the secluded location unaware of the disturbances ahead.[1] The narrative introduces the protagonist, mentalist John Don Bosco, whose expertise in psychological manipulation and observation plays a pivotal role as he becomes involved in the unfolding events at the mana.[15] The central conflict arises when the group's filming activities are disrupted by eerie paranormal occurrences attributed to the ghost of Manav Matthew, creating an atmosphere of suspense and fear.[3] This supernatural interference intertwines with a key investigative thread involving credit card fraud connected to the mysterious username "JOKER," prompting deeper inquiries into hidden motives among the participants.[16] As tensions escalate in the first half, the story builds suspense through mounting strange incidents, leading into a more intense second half where betrayals within the group surface, resulting in arrests and enigmatic deaths that heighten the mystery.[15] In the resolution, John Don Bosco employs his mentalist skills to unravel both the supernatural and criminal elements, restoring order to the disrupted gathering.[3] The film, with a runtime of 133 minutes, is structured in two halves that progressively amplify the intrigue from initial hauntings to climactic revelations.[1]Cast
The principal cast of Pretham 2 is led by Jayasurya, who plays John Don Bosco, a rational mentalist investigator tasked with unraveling the supernatural events at an old heritage bungalow.[17] His character serves as the central figure, applying logical deduction to confront the haunting tied to a past fraud.[3] The film features an ensemble of five strangers who connect through a Facebook group and gather to shoot a short horror film, each harboring personal motives linked to the underlying scam plot that indirectly connects them to the vengeful spirit.[18] These characters represent a mix of skeptical aspiring filmmakers and enthusiasts drawn into the paranormal chaos. Amith Chakalakkal portrays Tapas Menon, a key group member entangled in the group's dynamics.[17] Saniya Iyappan plays Niranjana (also referred to as Shafna), the female enthusiast within the ensemble.[17] Durga Krishna depicts Anu Thankam Paulouse, another participant in the filmmaking venture.[17] Dain Davis embodies Jofin T. Chacko, contributing to the group's skeptical yet adventurous archetype.[17] Sidhartha Siva takes on the dual role of Ramanand Kalathinkal, a fraudster figure, and Mangalasheri Neelakandan, highlighting the narrative's blend of deceit and supernatural elements.[19] The ghostly antagonist is played by Minon as Manav Matthew, an introverted spirit seeking retribution for a scam-related tragedy.[17] Notable cameos include Aju Varghese from the original Pretham as Denny Kokken, adding continuity to the franchise's universe.[17]Production
Pre-production
Pre-production for Pretham 2 began in mid-2018, following the success of the original film, with director Ranjith Sankar and actor Jayasurya collaborating closely on preparations for principal photography.[20] The phase focused on assembling a fresh ensemble cast while retaining core elements from the first installment to maintain continuity in the horror-comedy genre.[11] Jayasurya was retained in the lead role as the mentalist John Don Bosco, a character that received acclaim in the original, allowing for a seamless sequel narrative centered on paranormal investigations.[20] New supporting actors were selected to bring fresh dynamics, including Durga Krishna and Saniya Iyappan as the female leads, alongside Amith Chakalakkal, Dain Davis, and Sidhartha Siva, emphasizing emerging talents suited to the film's blend of suspense and humor.[21] A casting call for additional roles was issued in July 2018 to populate the ensemble with performers experienced in comedy and light thriller elements.[22] Location scouting prioritized authentic Kerala heritage sites to evoke a haunted ambiance, with Varikkassery Mana, a historic Namboothiri mansion in Ottapalam, selected as the primary setting for its architectural grandeur and prior use in films, enhancing the story's ghostly lore without relying on constructed sets.[23] Ranjith Sankar finalized the script, incorporating mentalism techniques alongside traditional ghost elements to drive the plot, aiming for a self-contained story that builds on the original's tone while introducing new suspenseful twists.[11] Technical preparations included assigning Vishnu Narayanan as cinematographer to capture the mana's eerie interiors with natural lighting, and V. Sajan as editor to ensure tight pacing in paranormal sequences using practical effects for authenticity.[24] These choices supported a modest production scale, focusing on location-based shooting to meet sequel expectations without extensive VFX.[25] The pre-production timeline spanned from July to early September 2018, culminating in the film going on floors on September 24, 2018, after script locks and crew assembly.[25]Filming
Principal photography for Pretham 2 began in late September 2018, as announced by director Ranjith Sankar on social media, with the production aiming for a Christmas release that year.[26] The shoot progressed efficiently under Sankar's direction, wrapping up principal sequences by mid-October to allow time for post-production.[11] The majority of the film was filmed at the historic Varikkasseri Mana, a traditional Kerala manor in Ottapalam, serving as the central heritage bungalow for the story's supernatural events, along with exteriors in surrounding Kerala locales to capture the region's lush and eerie ambiance.[27] This location choice leveraged the mana's architectural authenticity and reputed haunted aura, integral to the horror-comedy tone.[3] Vishnu Narayanan handled cinematography, focusing on moody visuals to build tension in the ghost sequences.[28]Soundtrack
Composition
Anand Madhusoodanan composed the music for Pretham 2, overseeing both the background score and the film's single original song.[17] A prominent figure in Malayalam cinema, Madhusoodanan debuted as a composer with the 2012 comedy-drama Molly Aunty Rocks and has since contributed scores to over a dozen films, including collaborations with director Ranjith Sankar on projects like Njan Marykutty.[29][30] The soundtrack's style reflects the film's horror-comedy blend, incorporating haunting motifs to heighten tension in supernatural and investigative sequences.[3] This approach aligns with the sequel's tone, extending the eerie yet humorous atmosphere established in the original Pretham. The background score emphasizes suspense during the protagonists' fraud probe, using subtle, atmospheric layers to underscore the mentalist elements without overpowering the dialogue-driven narrative. Recording for the music took place post-filming in late 2018, aligning with the film's December release, and deliberately limited the inclusion to one song to prioritize story flow over extensive musical interludes.[31] The sole track, "Njanundivide," was composed and lyrically crafted by Madhusoodanan, with vocals by Nidhin Raj, creating a cohesive integration of melody and theme.[32][33]Track listing
The soundtrack album of Pretham 2 features one original vocal song along with background score composed by Anand Madhusoodanan.[31][34] The album was digitally released in December 2018 through platforms including JioSaavn and Apple Music.[31][35] There are no other vocal tracks, with the background score consisting of instrumental pieces designed to build tension in the film's supernatural sequences.[36] The songs are in Malayalam, and no dubbed versions have been released.[31]| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length | Lyrics | Music |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Njanundivide" | Nidhin Raj | 3:37 | Anand Madhusoodanan | Anand Madhusoodanan |